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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. bound — tied together
  4. root — of a word
  5. bound — certain
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. fine — all right
  10. lean — to bend
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. root — of a plant
  14. board — to get on
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. rash — hasty
  20. root — the cause
  21. lean — thin
  22. board — a committee
  23. bound — obliged
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com